Chapter 14

There was a warm sensation brewing within the depths of her stomach as she gazed lovingly at the blonde-haired man, sleeping. His long blonde hair began to cover his ears, and Hinata couldn't help but think he'd look adorable. She had been up for quite some time watching him. Being alone with him made her want to be selfish and keep him all for herself. Thinking about it made her feel silly because he was her master, a master she had fallen deeply for. Who would have expected after so many masters that she would fall for him? Secrets were secrets for a reason, and she had no intentions of telling anyone of her true desires for this man.

She jumped up slightly when she saw him fidget in his sleep. He was chewing down on the bottom of his lips, and his brows furrowed.

"Naruto," Hinata whispered to him.

"Naruto."

A familiar whisper dropped into his ears, and he didn't even have to think twice to know who it was. Naruto was too embarrassed to open his eyes to see her disappointing gaze. He knew he was a disappointment. He knew he did things he shouldn't have and was deeply troubled by it. He wished he could turn back in time and do things the right way.

"Why are you crying?"

His heart sank to the pits of his stomach when he felt her soft fingers caress his wet cheeks. "I'm sorry, kaa-san," He whispered.

Kushina smiled warmly as she wrapped her arms around him, cuddling him tightly. He buried his head into her chest and began to weep. The fiery red hair woman giggled as she rocked her child back and forth.

"You're making up for it. That's what matters." She planted a kiss on his forehead. Slowly, he opened his eyes, tilting his head back to look into her beautiful violet eyes. They were so warm and gentle, as they always were. She wore her famous Uzumaki grin, the one he had come to inherit. "You're so handsome, Naru-chan."

"Kaa-san," Naruto whined, embarrassed by the nickname. "Stop calling me that," He mumbled under his breath.

She tightened her grip around him, smothering him with her warmness. "I don't care how big you are; you'll always be my Naru-chan."

Naruto held onto his mother tightly, wishing this moment would never end. "I miss you." He felt the tears threatening to fall. "I miss you so much. I miss your cooking. I miss you yelling at me. I miss your encouraging words. I miss your warmth," He placed the back of his arm against his eyes to hide his shameful look. "I miss tou-san too."

"I miss you too, Naru-chan,"

Naruto swiftly turned around when he heard his father's voice. It had been so long, but that gentle voice was something he would never forget. His tears splattered on the white cloud under him, and he quickly lounged at his father, who caught him. "I'm sorry, tou-san!" He broke down. "I'm sorry I couldn't be like you."

"You are your own person, Naruto," Minato said, ruffling his hair. "You are you, Naruto. You'll always be Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze. The temperament of your mother and the gentleness of your father."

Naruto began to panic when he didn't hear anything else. He looked up at his father, who was talking, yet he couldn't listen to what he was saying. Turning to his mother, she smiled as her body began to slowly disappear.

"No! Take me with you!" He pleaded. "Please, don't go! I need you!" He shouted.

He fell to his knees as he watched his parents turn their backs on him. They were happily talking to one another, and although that broke him, he was happy to see his mother look at his father in such a way. "Please," He sobbed. Every time he tried to run to them, they further they went. "Take me with you! Wait for me!"

Suddenly, Kushina turned around, her smile never ceasing. "It's not your time yet, Naru-chan." His arms fell loosely to his side, and he lowered his head. "Hinata is waiting for you."

Hearing her name made him snap his head up. That's right! How could he forget about Hinata? Minato took hold of his wife's hand and beamed joyfully.

"You better continue to treat her right unless you want me to haunt you for the rest of your life!" She shouted at him.

His heart fluttered, and he bobbed his head up and down. "I promise I will! I'll take care of her!"

"I'll take care of… take… care of her," Naruto mumbled over and over.

Hinata held Naruto's hand tightly as she was concerned about his well-being. What was even more concerning was the tears running down his cheeks. No matter how many times she called out to him, the only answer she got was, "I'll take care of her."

"Naruto," She placed his soft fingers against his damp cheek. "Please wake up."

"I'll take care of you, Hinata. I promise,"

Hinata's cheeks turned a bright ruby-red color upon hearing his confession. "And I'll take care of you!" She declared. His eyes snapped open, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw Hinata peering down at him. "You're awake!"

She climbed off the bed to race to the bathroom to get a damp cloth. Her steps echoed on the wooden floor as she raced back to Naruto. Taking a glimpse from the corner of his eyes, his heart raced unexpectedly. The look in her eyes was filled with concern. Although she always wore that look when it came to him, he wondered why? During her first few months there, he treated her like filth. Why was she so docile? Concerned about him? If it had been him, he would have spat in his master's food every time.

"Why?" He whispered.

Hinata pressed the cloth against his face to gather his sweat and tears. "Why what, sir? Are you feeling ill?"

She jumped when Naruto threw the cloth to the floor and grabbed her by her wrist. "I treated you poorly when you arrived and made your life hell. So, why are you like this to me?"

"I—"

"Shouldn't you hit me? Spit in my food or despise me?"

Although he sounded angry, the look in his eyes showed her he would not hurt her, not that she was concerned. He had always promised her he would never hurt her again. The look in his eyes told her he was sad about something.

"I've dealt with worse," Hinata spoke calmly. "You may have treated me that way, but I felt safer around you than my other masters."

Naruto was shocked to see her smile. He loosened his grip around her wrist and lowered his head. "That still doesn't make it right. You've been hurt enough, and… and I disappointed you. I let you down and continued the cycle."

"You broke that cycle, Naruto," Hinata said, taking hold of his hand. "I'm forever grateful for Madam Saya allowing me to be your maid," She giggled. "To be honest, I wouldn't have made it in the next few months if I was still with her. I was almost skin and bones when she gave me to you," She said in a humorous tone. "I've managed to fill out my clothes now, thanks to you."

"How could you laugh about such a thing?" He frowned. "I wouldn't have gotten to know you if you were to…." He couldn't even finish his sentence. Just thinking about it made his heartache. He would rather die first because the thought of her not being by his side anymore made him feel sick.

"Yes, yes," She nodded. "I know. You and I can't change the past, but what's important is now."

They looked longingly into each other's eyes and interlocked their fingers into one another.

"But—"

"If you hurt me again, I'll give you the silent treatment."

Naruto's eyes widened once hearing that. Hinata giving him the silent treatment would be worse than getting shot. Even that day at the dining table after the Hyuga incident shook him.

"I won't hurt you ever again, Hinata. I swear to you."

"You're a kind person, Naruto. Let's focus on moving forward together, okay?" Her hair fell to the side as she tilted her head slightly. "Naruto?" The man had turned deadly quiet.

There it was. That same feeling again. As Hinata spoke, his eyes were focused on her lips. How strange. Had there ever been a time he was focused on a woman's lips?

Brushing that nagging feeling away, he quickly said, "Let's begin our journey."

Letting go of her hand, he threw the heavy blanket off him, leaving the bed in a hurry. She couldn't help but stare at the man oddly as he ran into the bathroom area. When the door closed, she buried her head in the bed, letting out a dreamy sigh. How did she manage not to faint just now? Maybe he didn't realize how close he was getting to her lips.

She brushed her finger against her lips and then buried her face in the palm of her hands. Memories of that night played in her mind. She wondered if he remembered that night.

The sun hung high in the blue sky, its white cloud drifting along so effortlessly. Hinata tilted her head back to gaze at the ever-changing clouds, and she would smile when they formed into something magical. Truthfully, she was excited that it was just her and Naruto alone. She adored Konohamaru's presence but being alone with Naruto made her see different sides to him.

Occasionally, she would glimpse at Naruto, who was focused on the path ahead. His hair had grown so much that it would brush against the nape of his neck every so often. She could tell he wasn't used to the feeling as he constantly swatted his hand against his neck.

These were just some of the things she picked up when observing him. It was entertaining in a way. Even as they walked down the path, she knew he was scouting the area, although his eyes were fixed ahead.

"Are you always observant?"

"One must always be observant, Hinata. The enemy attacks when you least expect it." He responded. His time with Kakashi taught him a lot, especially since not everyone was to be trusted.

A faint smile landed on her lips, and she nodded. "Should I be observant now?" She placed her arms behind her back, looking left to right. The colorful flowers in the field shook slightly as a gentle breeze blew against them.

Naruto glanced down at her; his face had turned red upon seeing her scouting the area. She'd look beautiful doing such a thing.

"Watch out, Naruto!"

He quickly stopped in his tracks and looked around for any enemies. However, his muscles relaxed when he heard Hinata giggling.

"It was too tempting." She placed her hand against her mouth to suppress her soft cackles.

"Hinata,"

She cocked her head to the side as she looked at him. His head was lowered, causing his unkempt hair to fall over his eyes. "Y-yes?" He sounded so serious saying her name. Did she take her joke too far?

"Run."

Without being told twice, she gripped her bag straps tightly and ran down the grassy path. The sound of his feet was very light. When she looked over her shoulder, she let out a loud squeak when Naruto grabbed her from behind, picking her up from the ground.

"Hinata, you're becoming more like me every day," He hummed as he carried her bridal style down the path.

"Am I?" She smiled faintly as she tilted her head back to get a better view of him. The sun's rays reflecting on his gave him a bit of a golden glow. Their relationship was beginning to feel more than just master and servant, and she wondered if Naruto still viewed her as such.

He carried her for a while, and neither said a word. Birds chirped in the background, and the flowers around them danced every so often.

Afternoon was creeping up on them as they continued their journey. Hinata would stop every so often to look at the cattle and to view the different flowers that blossomed on the side. She would ask for their forgiveness before plucking one of them or a petal to save as a keepsake.

"Where are we going, Naruto?" She questioned, looking at the horses they were approaching.

"Have you ever ridden on a horse, Hinata?"

"I have not."

"Let's ride one together."

The dirt from the path followed behind them as the horse walked down the trail. If anyone were to see their faces, they would question whether they had caught a fever. Their faces were red that they could easily compare to that of a cherry.

Hinata ran her fingers against the fur of the brown horse and then stared at her hand. "She's really soft,"

"She is," Naruto replied.

Her eyes searched the path around them, and she cooed when a bright yellow butterfly flew by her. She instantly forgot about her beating heart or that she and Naruto were so close together. However, Naruto was feeling the complete opposite. He felt so strange, and not in a bad way. Being around Hinata brought him inner peace, but he couldn't deny that he wanted to cherish her always. Had he felt such a way with a woman before?

"Naruto, is there a reason you're going so slow?" Hinata asked, tilting her head back to look at him.

Naruto stared deeply into her eyes, and the corner of his lips tugged upwards. "Would you like me to go fast, Hinata?"

She closed her eyes, smiling. "Yes."

"Hold on tightly then," He grinned.

Laughter erupted from her as the horse went full speed down the path. Her hair flew back with the wind, and her eyes widened in excitement as the scenery blurred. She had never been horseback riding before and was glad she could share the experience with Naruto first.

Different people walked the streets of Don's Town. They were now at their destination and only had to wait until tomorrow when Sasuke and Konohamaru would arrive. Naruto watched Hinata from the distance as she went to view what the vendors had to offer. She needed some more fabrics to finish the yukata for Mr. Fox. Naruto had yet to give him a name, and she found it cruel.

"You're a beautiful girl," Hinata turned to her side to see an older woman dressed in a pink western dress look her up and down. "You're beautiful and full," She exclaimed, fanning herself.

Hinata felt flattered by the compliment, and she bowed. "T-thank you,"

"Are you married?" The older woman asked.

Naruto was close enough to hear her, which made his face turn red.

"No, ma'am."

"I would like to make you my daughter!" She clasped her hands together. "Then I can have pretty babies."

Before Hinata could object, the older woman had called out to her son, who was lollygagging behind her. "Hiroshi!"

Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose, and just as he was about to approach them, a tall, handsome fellow stepped beside his mother. He was weary of her and just wanted to return to his village, but she had to drag him along, using her sickness as an excuse. He almost scoffed. She was sick, yet she had the energy to shop!

"Yes, mama?"

"I want you to meet your new wife," She exclaimed, patting Hinata on her back. "Isn't she lovely? Now give me babies. Lots and lots of babies!"

Hiroshi almost rolled his eyes as he couldn't fathom his mother ever picking out a pretty woman. The ones she did pick reminded him of a pug's face. To appease his mother, he turned his direction to the woman and instantly felt a pang in his heart. He was in love.

"You're lovelier than any girl I've laid my eyes on," He dropped to his knees and held out his hand. "Marry me."

Naruto felt his right eye twitch. Of course, Hinata was pretty, and who wouldn't want to marry her, but he didn't even know her, yet alone her name! How could he propose?

By then, a herd of people gazed at the two in awe. The older woman's loudmouth had already gathered the other people's attention. Hinata felt flustered as to what to do.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto approached them, taking hold of Hinata's hand.

"Hinata," Naruto called out, trying to hide his distaste for the man on his knee. "We should get going."

"Uh, y-yes!" She bowed at Hiroshi and the older woman. "I do apologize, but I must be on my way."

Naruto rushed Hinata through the crowd until Hiroshi shot up from his knee and pointed his finger at the wife stealer. "And who are you!"

Naruto peered over his shoulder, glaring at the disgruntled man. "I am her husband."

In disappointment, the older woman lowered her head, and Hiroshi fell to his knees. The love of his life was already taken.

Hinata stared at the back of Naruto's head as he led her through the crowd until they were far away. The entire time he was grumbling. "How could he propose to you? He doesn't even know your name!"

She was still in a daze upon hearing Naruto say that. Her husband? Of course, she knew he only said that in the heat of the moment, but for some odd reason, she felt there was truth behind that.

Hinata shook her head.

"Are you okay, Hinata?" Naruto asked, looking down at the bewildered girl.

"I'm fine," She replied softly.

There was an awkward silence between them, and then they suddenly looked down at their hands. They were still connected. Instantly, their hearts synced in beat, and none looked eager to release the other's hand.

"Let's find us a place near the dock. Sasuke and Konohamaru should be here tomorrow," Naruto commented in an unusually soft tone.

If this is what happiness felt like, Hinata never wanted it to end.

Husband? Naruto chewed down on his bottom lip as he stared at the wooden ceiling. His mind was in a puzzle, and he was slowly trying to connect them back into place. He turned slightly to his right to watch Hinata, who was sound asleep.

Why did he feel so flustered? Hadn't he proposed marriage a few days ago? Why was he being so bashful now? The young girl mumbled something before she smiled warmly, scooting close to him. Out of all the women he had ever encountered, Hinata was by far the prettiest one. Seeing that made Naruto's heart thump uncontrollably.

"You better continue to treat her right unless you want me to you for the rest of your life!"

Yes, he would treat her right, yet there was something deep down within him that he wanted to do more than just that. He wanted to remain by her side, but there was more to it.

"I wish I knew what it was. Am I that dense that I can't understand my own feelings?" He said to himself. "Why do you make me feel this way, Hinata Hyuga?"

Throughout the night, Naruto tried his best to fall asleep, but the dreams he had invaded his mind. Raindrops slammed down on the roof, and a ghastly wind blew furiously outside. Tiny debris flew by the bare window, and the sky above sounded like someone had torn into it countless times. Rolling on his back, Naruto stared at the wooden ceiling. His long lashes curled when his eyes fluttered, and eventually, he could fall asleep.

With Naruto's help, Hinata was able to pick up a few items like clothes, toys, books, and other things to be shipped to Yoko and the kids. She couldn't wait to see them, especially young Marco!

"Do you think Marco has gotten any bigger?" Hinata asked, gazing at the gray sky above.

"It's only been a week since you've seen him., He shouldn't have gotten any bigger," Naruto responded.

"But isn't he adorable?" She beamed down at Naruto, who was walking by her side.

He scoffed as a response. "You be careful up there," he said, eyeing her. She was walking on a short, stoned wall on their path. Little puddles were spotted throughout the grassy fields, and everything looked messy. The past few days were calm, so why did the storm appear out of nowhere? Naruto felt a little uneasy for some strange reason, but he quickly swallowed whatever negative thoughts he had. It was just a little rain, right?

"I have good balance!" She exclaimed.

"I've never seen this side of you before," Naruto spoke truthfully.

She wobbled a little before catching her balance. "Well, when I'm with you, I feel like I can be this way. I spent most of my days cleaning, cooking, sewing, you name it. I used to get jealous seeing the other kids play." She said, placing her arms behind her back. "I've never been to any festivals either. I'm a woman now, so I shouldn't think of such things."

"Then let's do it," Naruto said, causing both to stop. He turned to look up at her. "Let's play tag, kick the ball, and fly a kite. I'll buy you the best yukata and take you to the festivals. Then when we're done, let's travel the world. Just you and I."

Thump, thump

"I'll build you a nice," He shook his head, "I'll build you the most magnificent house with my own two hands, and we can move in together! We'll have a garden full of sunflowers, and then you can host all the tea parties you want because you'll have a lot of sincere friends. No one will ever see you as a maid, and they won't disrespect you. I'll remain by your side, even after death." Hinata's face was redder with each word coming out of his mouth. "And I promise you, I'll find you in the next life and the next life after that, Hinata. I want to remain by your side, always."

She went to say something, but he quickly interjected. "No more of this true love talk," He mumbled, looking away. "It's just you and I, forever, so…."

The wind picked up slightly as it blew against them. Hinata tucked her hair behind her ears and then jumped at Naruto, who quickly caught her in his arms. "Hinata!" He shouted. "What if you had fallen?"

"I don't have to worry about that because I know you'll always catch me."

He gently placed her on the ground and scratched the back of his head. His heart was still beating uncontrollably. Why did she make him feel this way? He didn't understand why he would say such a thing, but he knew one thing… he meant it.

After his parent's death, he always thought he would wind up alone. He fired all his maids and shut everyone out of his life during that time, but luckily, he still had a friend like Sasuke who remained by his side. Then he met Shikamaru and Kiba, and he adored their company. However, none of them would compare to Hinata. He truly loved being around her!

Love.

He loved being around her.

He loved her presence and the joy she brought him.

He loved the way he wanted to protect her.

He loved…

"Come on, Naruto!" Hinata said, taking hold of his hand. "Let's see what awaits us before our next adventure."

As she led them back into town, Naruto allowed himself to be pulled by Hinata.

He loved… it was as if something was trying to click in his mind.

Love?

Konohamaru smiled brightly as Naruto and Hinata approached them. The last few days with Sasuke had been… quiet. The man barely spoke, which left Konohamaru intimidated, and they barely did anything. He hadn't even gotten anything, yet he still paid him. What a strange man.

"Konohamaru!" Hinata outstretched her arms as the boy ran up to her, hugging her. "I miss you." She said, caressing his hair.

"I miss you too!"

The fox jumped from Sasuke and ran up to Naruto. He went on his two legs, waiting for Naruto to pick him up. He glared at the fox, then quickly sighed once seeing his gaze. He scooped the fox up, planting him on the top of his head.

While Konohamaru was talking Hinata's head off, Naruto approached Sasuke. "Did you get what you needed for your mother?"

"No. They didn't have anything she'd fancy." He shrugged.

"I told you to let Hinata come along. She would have been able to help you. Women have a knack for those types of things, ya know."

"I'll keep that in mind," Sasuke said. "You need a haircut."

"Pfft. You should be the last to talk. Your hair is about to cover your eyes soon."

Sasuke unintentionally lifted a piece of his hair, sighing.

Hinata approached the two men, with Konohamaru eagerly following along.

"Naruto! Look at this!" Konohamaru grinned, tilting his head up.

Naruto looked at the boy oddly. "Uh?"

"Look!" He pointed to his chin, and there it was. A little strand of hair had grown on his chin. "This means I'm growing up," He poked out his chest.

For some reason, that tickled Naruto, and he almost laughed. Not at Konohamaru, but a memory of Kiba saying the same thing.

"And soon, you'll be growing more," Naruto added.

The horn from the ferry sounded, and the docks slowly gathered with people.

The water glistened from the sun's rays as Naruto stared down at it. The fox wrapped his tail around Naruto and cuddled him as he was excited to be close to him again. During those days without him, the little fellow believed he would never see this mean human again. How else would he do his job? He found him to be very cruel and contemplated running away, but someone had to keep him in line, right?

"Awe, Konohamaru, didn't you drink some of the tea?" He heard Hinata ask in the background.

"I was too excited to show Naruto my beard that I forgot."

Naruto chuckled. "Is that what you're calling it now?" He said to himself.

Although they were short days he spent with Hinata, he would like to believe they had gotten closer than before. Still, it left him confused per se. He sighed loudly.

The ferry ride was three hours, a killer for Konohamaru but an adventure for Hinata. Her eyes roamed the sea freely, and she enjoyed every second of it. The sparkling water was so mesmerizing, and the way the sun soared in the sky was magnificent.

"Isn't it beautiful, Naruto?" Hinata asked, approaching him. "The ocean looks so wonderful right now. It reminds me of your eyes," She beamed.

Naruto swallowed the lump in his throat before nodding.

"I'm sorry if I spoke too much this entire trip. I was just excited," She laughed nervously.

"I enjoy hearing your voice, Hinata,"

He meant it. Just listening to her made his thoughts go away. She did something to him, and he was grateful to have her in his life. Ironically, he would be thanking his aunt for providing her maid.

However, that did not mean he would lollygag around her. That woman made it clear she didn't like him and was probably praying to the gods for his death, so providing a maid was unusual. What were her true intentions? He knew Hinata couldn't play a part in whatever his aunt had in mind, but he still had to be cautious doing the first month she was there.

Naruto wanted to ask Hinata about her life with his aunt. He wanted to know if she had heard anything out of the ordinary, but he did not want to ruin this moment. He didn't want to fill her mind with any negative thoughts, but Konoha was full of negativity toward her. Wouldn't it be best for her not to return? He wished they had gotten to know Hinata then maybe they would realize what a wonderful person she was.

"What's our next location?" She asked.

"We call it the Isles." He explained.

"Is it a beautiful place?"

Naruto bobbed his head up and down. "It is! They're known for their clear ocean waters."

Hinata clasped her hands together. "I can't wait!"

"I can't do another boat ride," Konohamaru said, holding his stomach.

Hinata quickly rushed to his side and led him to a steel bench nailed to the ground. She patted his back gently as he hurled over, holding his stomach.

Sasuke coolly walked over to Naruto, shoving his hands into his trousers. The ocean sparkled, and the waves were peaceful.

"I had a dream about kaa-san and tou-san," Naruto spoke softly. "They look more radiant than before. I promised kaa-san I'll take care of Hinata."

"Because she deserves it," Sasuke finally spoke.

"Have you ever kissed a woman before, Sasuke?" Naruto asked.

"I have not," Sasuke answered.

"Have you ever thought about kissing a woman before?" Naruto lowered his head.

"Is there something you would like to discuss?" Sasuke inquired. "Have you thought of kissing a woman before?"

"It's an inappropriate thought, but I have," Naruto said, turning his direction to the glistening water. "When I'm with her, I feel weird, but it's a good feeling. She's someone I would like to spend my time with." He suddenly frowned. "I don't know what these feelings are, truthfully, and it's frustrating. I've been around several women, and none had ever made me feel this way."

Sasuke was dumbfounded by the words Naruto expressed. "And what is that feeling?"

Naruto sighed dreamily as he leaned over the railing. "Being around Hinata makes me feel like I'm on top of the world. When Hinata is by my side, I want to do great things and better myself. She motivates me and makes me want to work harder and do better."

"That's good you met a woman like that. It'll be good if she can always remain by your side, right?"

"We made a promise we would," He mumbled.

Unknown to Naruto, Sasuke smirked mischievously. "Ah, promises," He paused momentarily, "but what if someone offers her hand in marriage."

So far, two people already did, and another offered to run away with her. Thinking about them irritated him.

"Hinata isn't going to get married if I don't. That's the promise we made," He glimpsed at Sasuke.

"Love is a powerful thing that makes a man and woman inseparable. What would happen if Hinata found her true love? How would that make you feel? She'll have to leave you and start her own life and family, and then you won't have anyone."

That made Naruto's heart heavy. "Prom—"

"Promises are sometimes meant to be broken, but what do you care? It's not like you're going to marry her." Sasuke said, shrugging his shoulders. "Because marriage consists of two people being in love." As much as he wanted to stay away from Naruto's love life, listening to him made him feel sad. He was truly confused about his feelings, but who could blame him?

The only love he had ever received was from his father and mother before their untimely death. No one was there to encourage, hold, or make him rice porridge when he was ill. His aunt sure as hell didn't show any of that affection to Naruto. Wasn't this natural for him not to understand these feelings? Or maybe the boy was just that clueless. Who knew? He couldn't watch Naruto struggle internally with himself, and it wasn't fair to Hinata, who was clearly smitten by the man. How long would she have to wait before his best friend figured it out?

"It seems we're almost there,' Sasuke said, pointing his nose toward the Isles. "We shouldn't stay here long." He looked over at Naruto, who turned quiet.

Naruto's grip loosened around the railing and the words Sasuke said played in his mind. Marriage equals two people being in love.

"Would you kiss a woman if you could?" Naruto suddenly asked.

"I'll only kiss the woman I love."

"I see," Naruto replied.

That piece finally clicked in Naruto's head. Out of all the women he surrounded himself with, whether it be Ino, Sakura, or Antionette, they never made him feel this way. Unlike Hinata, they didn't make him want to spend all his money on them, take care of them, and show them the world. His heart never beat uncontrollably around them, nor did he think of having children with them. He wasn't confused about his feelings about them, but Hinata left his mind in disarray. Being around her made him feel all these things!

When did it truly start?

Suddenly, Sasuke's eyes widened when Naruto exploded into laughter. He had never heard such a thing, and many passengers looked at the young man oddly. Hinata glanced at Naruto, bent over laughing then she met Konohamaru's questioning look.

"So, that's it!" He laughed proudly. "Am I really that dense? How long would it have taken me to realize that? Did I really have to go to baa-chan for something like that?" His cheeks were burning as he tried to stop himself from laughing. His laughter began to die down, and just as Sasuke was about to say something, Naruto looked at him. He had never seen him look so radiant before. When was the last time he had seen Naruto look as such?

"Sasuke, I'm in love with Hinata."

-Review-

AN: For the past several months, I went back and forth with this chapter. This chapter was supposed to be longer than this, but I didn't want to take away from Naruto's moment.

Naruto's realization was done a few months ago, but I could never post it because I didn't feel connected to it. Reading it over and over did not make me smile. So, at ten in the morning, I decided to rewrite this entire chapter, taking away contents from the Isle's story and adding more emotions to their journey.

I hope I was right in rewriting this chapter and everyone enjoyed this knucklehead's realization.

Note: Naruto did plant a kiss on Hinata's lips in chapter 2, but he is a lightweight and rarely remembers anything when he drinks.

Please tell me what you think about this chapter! Your feedback is much appreciated.

Thank you.